Cut-off valve for water supply systems



March 15, 1932. R. s. KLLEY CUT-OFF-VALVE FOR WATER SUPPLY SYSTHS Filed`0ot. 50, 1929 XRW Patented Mar. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT-,OFFICE ROBERT S. IKELLEY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL METER GOM- PANY, OF NEW YORK, Y.,`A OORPORATION OF NEW `YORK" CUT-OFFVALVE FORWATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS Application' led October 30, 1929. Serial No. 403,375;

My inventionmore particularly relates to such a cut-off valve which is controlled by the temperature of the water supply. A

My invention will best be understood'by 5 reference tothe accompanying drawings, in

which I have illustrated a preferred embodi-l ment and in which Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section showing parts in side elevation of an automatic cut-ofi' for a water sup.-` ly -embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a ragmentary sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 1 and illustrating the valve member when in its closed position, and the part leading to the drain connection open, and Fig. 3 is a detail side view. Y

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, is a water supply pipe for delivering water to a factory, dwelling or the like. The water supply pipe is connected to a casing 11 which would usually be located in the 'cellar or otherl portion of the building. A service pipe 12 is also connected to the casing 11, and, is in turn connected to a water meter 13 which may be of standard form and the details of which, therefore, have not been illustrated. The water meter is preferably located ladjacent to the casing enclosing t-he cut-off valve. y f

The casing 11 is provided with a partition 14 rextending vtransversely and upwardly across the casing, asshown in Fig. 1, and forms, with the casing, a chamber 15 below and at the side of the partition with which the supply pipe 10 communicates, and a chamber 1G located, above the partition. The partition 14 is provided withV a tapped opening 17 in which is received al valve seat 18 formed with screw threads engaging the threads formed in the opening17.

A valve member 19, provided with a lower` conicalportion 191 and an Vupper conical portion 192, isV normally retained'in its elevated position illustrated in Fig. 1, the coni cal portion 192 being in engagement with the valve: seat 20 formed on a second partition 21- in the casing. Thev'alve, when `in its velevated position illustrated in Fig. '1, closes the port 22 lea-ding to a drain connection 23, With the valve in the open position, the water from the supply ipe 1() 1s free to pass through the cham er .15,` through the valve seat 18, chamber 16,` pipe 12, and the water meter 13, and thence through a building. y K I` will now describe the means for retain?, ing thevalve in its normally open position as shown in Fig. 1, and for releasing the same when the water supplied to the building reaches a predetermined low temperature. 'j

A thermostat, which is here shown`V as of thebellows type, is placedin the chamberv 16 where it is contacted bythe water supplied to the building and controlled bythe temperature thereof. i

,One end of the thermostat 25`is 'mounted ypipe 24 supplying .water to they upon af stem 26 which is, in turn, received in a' screw plug 27 the threads of which are received in a tapped opening`28 in a cover plate 29 which closes an openingv 30 inthe, casing 11, and through which the thermostat and associated parts may be removed. VThe screw plug 27 affords a 'ready means forad; justingthe thermostat.v I'

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To therother end ofthe thermostat' 25'is at-A Y tached a stem 31 formed, inthe embodiment illustratedwith a head 32 which isrece'ived i inV a cylindrical member 33 fitted within 'a boss 34 formed on the partition 21. A screwthreaded member or 'plug 35'is-r'ecieived Ain the end of the cylindrical member 33 oppo-l site to that in which the head 32 is located. A spring 351 is preferably interposed "b`e' tweenA the member 35 and the head 32.' 5

The member 35 is providedwith a detent 36 which engages in an annular groove`37" with which a sleeveY 38` is provided. The

sleeve'38 vis preferably screw-threaded on its Y interior,and is received on the screw-thread"-` soY ed portion 39 ofa stem 40, the lower end of which is attached to the valve 19. W l Y Means are provided which normally tend to' force the valve 1.9 towards itsclosed position. VIn the embodiment` illustrated,`such means comprises acoil spring 42 thefupp'er end of which engages the casing"11,'andthe lower 'end ofwhichengages a collar 435e-, cured to thestem 40. Theupper vendfofth'e' ing and bursting the pipes,

vstem passes through a stufiing box 44 and lwhich the seat has been removed. In case the detent 36 is engaged in the groove 37, it will be necessary to loosen the plug 27 of the thermostat to an extent sufficient to cause the witlidrawal'of the detent from the groove. If the valve is to be removed entirely, it will also, of course, be necessary to loosen the gland forming part of the stuffing box 44 and to remove the handle 45.

The operation of the device embodying my invention will readily be understood from the foregoing description and is as follows:

Normally, the stem 40 is retained in its elevated position illustrated in Fig. 1 by the detent 36 engaging the groove 37 on the sleeve 38. When the water reaches a predetermined minimum temperature at which it is likely to freeze in the water meter which is located adjacenttothe valve casing, or in other parts of the building, the thermostatl 25 contracts and withdraws the dete'nt 36 from engagement with the groove 37, thereby permitting the spring 42 to force the valve 19 downwardly into engagement with the valve seat 18 and thus cutting 0H the water supply both to the meter and to the pipes of the building. At the same time, the seating of the valve 19 opens the port 22 leading to the drain connection 23, thereby permitting the Waterwhich is in the casing 11 in the water meter and in the pipes of the building to drain from the system and preclude its freezand particularly of the water niediiiicult of avoiding injuring the parts ter which are both expensive and replacement.

To return the valve 19 to its open position, it is lifted by the handle 45 until the detent 36 again engages the groove 37. The handle 45 may then be turned to raise the valve 19 suiciently to cause it firmly to engage the seat 20. It will be understoodl that at this time the, sleeve 38 threaded on the stemv 40 is prevented from rotating by the detent 36 which is in engagement with the groove 37. As the sleeve cannot rise because of the detent, it cannot rotate.

The provision Yof tlne lost motion connecl tion between the detent 36 and the. thermostat 25 permits the expansion of the latter when the temperature within the casing rises, without injury or breakage of parts. It will be noted,rfor example, that if the thermostat with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1 expands, the head 32 on the stem 31 will merely compress the spring 351 without disturbing the detent 36. The same operation takes place in case the stem drops and seats the valve 19.

My invention provides means for preventing freezing of water in water pipes in buildings such as factories and the like, where the temperature is likely to reach the freezing point,vand particularly prevents the freezing of water in the water meter in which the parts are comparatively expensive and replaceable with more or less diiiiculty. It is well known that flowing water will not immediately freeze, although its temperature may be considerably below the freezing point.

In accordance with my invention, the ther-f mostat which controls the operation of the cut-off valve is contacted by the water supplied to the system, and whenl the water reaches such a temperature that the water'in the meter which is located adjacent tothe cutoff valve, or in the `pipesin the building, is likely to freeze, the automatic cut-off valve is operated and simultaneously cuts ofi' the water supply both to the meter and to the building, and opens the drain connection which empties the water from the water meter and from the pipes.

I claim: Y

1. In combination, a water supply system comprising a water supply pipe, a valve casing and a service pipe connected to said casing, a valve and its seat located in said casing, -said valve controlling the flow of water from the supply pipe through said casing to the service pipe, means for normally retaining said' valve in its .open position, means for closing said valve when said retaining means is rendered inoperative and means controlled by the temperature of the water in said casing for rendering said retaining means Vin'- operative kto therebypermit the closing of said valve 2. In combination, a water supply system comprising a water-supply pipe, a valve casing and a service pipe'connected to said casing, a valve and its seat located in said cas-- ing, said valve controlling the flow of water from the supply pipe through said casing to the service pipe, means for normally re-V taining said valve in its open position, a drain connection normally closed when said valve is in its open position, nieansfor closing said valve when said retaining means yis rendered inoperative and means controlled by the temperature of the water in said casing for rendering said retainingmeans inoperative to thereby permit the simultaneous closing of said valve and the opening of said drain connection.

3. In combination, a Ywater supply systemV comprising a water supply pipe, a valve casing and a service pipe connected to said casing a valve and its seat located in said casing, said valve controlling the flow of water from the supply pipe through said casing to the service pipe, means :tor normally retaining com risinor a water su l7 i e a valve casf ing and a service pipe connected to said cas'- ing, a valve and its seat located in said casing, said valve controlling the ilow of Water from lthe supply pipe through said casing to the service pipe, means for normally retaining said valve in its open position, means tending to close said valve, a thermo-stat contacted by the Wat-er in said casing and subjected to the temperature thereof, and means controlled by said thermostat for releasing said valve.

5. In combination, a water supply system comprising a water supply pipe, a valve casing and a service pipe connected to said casing, a valve and its seat located in said casing, said valve controlling the flow of water from the supply pipe through said casing to the service pipe, means for normally retaining said valve in its open position, means tending to close said valve, a detent for normally retaining said valve in its open position, a thermostat located in said casing and contacted by the water therein, said detent being connected to said thermostat, the parts being constructed and arranged to withdraw said detent and permit the valve to close when the water in the casing reaches a predetermined temperature.

6. In combination, a water supply syste-m comprising a water supply pipe, a valve casing and a service pipe connected to said casing, a valve and its seat locatedin said casing, said valve controlling the flow of water from the supply pipe through said casing to the service pipe, means for normally retain ing said valve in its open position, a drain connection normally closed by said valve when in its open position, a detent for normally retaining said valve in its open position, a thermostat located within said casing and contacted by the water therein, andconnections for withdrawing said detent when the tem-V perature of the water in said casing reac ies a predetermined temperature, thereby permitting the simultaneous closing of said valve and the opening' of said drain connection.

7. In combination, a water supply system comprising a water supply pipe, a valve casing and a service pipe connected to said casing, a valve and its seat located in said casing, said valve controlling the flow of water from the supply pipe through said casing to the service, pipe, means for normally'retaining said valve in its open position, a `stem connected to said valve and provided with a groove, means associated with saidstem tending to close the valve, a detent adapted to engage in said groove and normally retain the valve in open position, a thermostat located` within said casing and contacted by the water therein, and connections between said detent and said thermostat whereby the detent is withdrawn from engagementA in said groove when the water in the casing reaches a predetermined temperature.

8. In combination, a water supply system comprising a water supply pipe,a valve casing and a service pipe connected to said casing, a valve and its seat `located in said casing, said valve controlling the flow of water from the supply pipe through said casing to the service pipe, a stem connected to said valve and provided with a groove, a detent adapted normally to engage in said groove and retain the valve in open position, Aa thermostat located within said casing and contacted by the watertherein, a connection between said detent and said thermostat constructed and arranged to withdraw the detent from engagement in said groove when the water in the casing reaches a predetermined temperature, said connection comp-rising lost motionl parts .whereby thethermostat may expand without moving said detent.

9. In combination, a water supply system comprising awater supply pipe, a valve casing and a service pipe connected to said casing, a valve and its seat located in said'casing, said valve controlling the flow of water from the supply pipe through said casing to the service pipe, a stem connected to said valve and provided with a groove, a detent adapted normally to engage in said groove and retainv the valve in open position, a thermostat located Within said casing and contacted by the water therein, a connection between said detent and said thermostat constructed and arranged to withdraw the detent from engagement in said groove when the Water in the casing reaches a predetermined temperature, said connection. comprising lost motion parts and a spring interposedfbetween said parts whereby said thermostat may expand without moving said detent.

l0. In combination, a water supply system comprising a water supply pipe, a valve casing andal service pipe connected to said casing, a valve and its seat located in said casing,

said valve controlling the flow of water from y service pipe, means for normally retainingV said valve in its open position, a water meter to which said service pipe is connected and through which the water flows, means for closing said valve when said retaining means is rendered inoperative and means controlled vby the temperature of the water in said casing for rendering said retaining means inoperative to thereby permit the `closing of said valve.. y n c ROBERT S. KELLEY. 

